Sunday 14 February 2016

UK band Viola Beach killed in Sweden

The four members of British indie band Viola Beach and their manager have died in a car crash in Sweden.

Kris Leonard, River Reeves, Tomas Lowe and Jack Dakin and manager Craig Tarry were killed when their car plunged more than 25m (82ft) from a highway bridge into a canal.
The accident happened in the early hours of Saturday near Stockholm.
BBC Radio 1's Huw Stephens said the Warrington band had toured with bigger bands and were "incredibly promising".
"We can confirm that five British nationals died in a car accident in Sweden on February 13," the Foreign Office said.
"We are in contact with local authorities and supporting the families at this very difficult time."

'Swings and Waterslides'
The band were part of the line-up for Swedish music festival Where is the Music? on Friday and were due to play a gig in Guildford in Surrey on Saturday.
The Boiler Room - the Guildford venue they were due to play - said it was "saddened and devastated" to learn of the fatal crash.
Blossoms, the band which was meant to be headlining the gig, tweeted: "Absolutely devastated for the loss of Viola Beach and Craig Tarry. Our thoughts are with their friends and families."
Viola Beach released their debut single Swings & Waterslides last year and had featured on BBC Introducing, which showcases up-and-coming music artists.
The four piece's last post on Facebook was on 2 February, when they wrote about playing a gig in the US next month.
Tributes have been pouring in for the band.
Music promoter Dave Pichilingi booked the band for the Liverpool Sound City festival last year and they were scheduled to play again this year.
They were a "hungry, energetic, amazing" band who "were on the verge of great things", he said.
BBC Radio Merseyside presenter Dave Monks, who was among the first to play their music on air, said they were "great guys" who had "so much going for them".
Lee Harman, editor of the Warrington Music website WAM who knew the band, said they were "very dedicated" and had a "real passion for what they were doing".
Travis lead singer Fran Healy tweeted: "So sad. @Viola_Beach :("
Ross Jarman, from The Cribs, tweeted: "Heart goes out to the Viola Beach guys and their families."
Indie rock band, The Enemy, tweeted: "RIP Viola Beach and their manager. Such incredibly tragic and sad news. Thought with the friends and families of all involved x"
Viola Beach
Four-piece band from Warrington, Cheshire
Kris Leonard - guitar, lead vocal; River Reeves - guitar; Tomas Lowe - bass; Jack Dakin - drums
Officially formed in May 2015
Released debut single Swings & Waterslides last year
Played several BBC Introducing Sessions
Performed at Reading and Leeds Festival in 2015
Swedish police said they received a call about 02:30 local time (01:30 GMT) and were on the scene within five minutes.
They said divers recovered the bodies of the victims - aged between 20 and 35 - after their Nissan Qashqai plunged through a gap in the bridge which had opened to let a boat pass underneath.
The bridge has a middle section that rises directly upwards without tilting, leaving a gap that the car drove into, the police said.
A barrier before the opening has flashing lights and warning signs, the officer handling the case said, and other drivers were waiting behind the barrier.
Inspector Martin Bergholm said: "For some reason, the car drove through the barriers and crashed down into the canal.
"The witnesses just saw a car beside them and kind of disappear."
Eyewitness Jonny Alexandersson told the BBC he was waiting for the bridge to go down when he saw a car coming very fast on the left side.
"It was very tight," he said. "They passed me and in front of me was a taxi and the car smashed the side of this car and then they go in the barrier, then I don't see anything more of the car, the lights were gone."

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